Course work theme: Visibility and essence in the tragedy Othello

THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND SECONDARY SPECIAL EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN


SAMARKAND STATE INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES



COURSE WORK
THEME: Visibility and essence in the tragedy Othello

Scientific supervisor:
Done by:


Samarkand – 2021


CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………...3
CHAPTER I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO
1.1. Othello's place in world literature and analysis of its characters ………….6
1.2. Othello’s Thought Pattern ….....11
Conclusion on chapter I….…………………………………………………..16
Chapter II. content and essence of othello

2.1. violence and identity in Shakespeare's Othello………………..17

2.2. racism in othello.……………………………………21
Conclusion on chapter II…………………………………………………….27
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………..28
REFERENCES……..……………………………………………………………30


INTRODUCTION
“Othello” is a play written by William Shakespeare around 1604. It is also known under another title “The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice”. This is one of the most staged and read tragedies in the world. It presents a strong feeling of love which results in a cruel obsession driven by jealousy. The text is known for its gripping plot, rich language, and sad story. The story was actually inspired by another text – “A Moorish Captain” – written by Boccaccio’s student Cinthio. Such resemblance added more fire to the rumors that Shakespeare was not the true author of his plays, however, even today there is not enough evidence to prove or contest such speculations. So, millions of readers around the world continue to enjoy the rich and intense stories written by this famous English author.
In the play of Othello, Shakespeare perfectly explores the issue of racial tension that existed in the Elizabethan era. Othello, a loyal soldier and the protagonist of the play, appears as an outsider in Venice because of his dark skin; he is repeatedly and often harshly judged by others based on his different ethnic background and special outward characteristics. Despite being a warrior of high status, he cannot be fully embraced by the white people around him due to his otherness. He is further alienated from other Venetians, and almost all characters—including Othello himself—acknowledges his blackness and therefore his differences. Edward Berry, one of this play’s critics, argues in“ Othello’s Alienation” that Othello portrays the stereotypical view of white men toward Africans in the Elizabethan era. In fact, Berry sees Othello as “a tragedy of perception,” believing the characters’ negative view point toward the play’s protagonist leads to its tragic ending . In other words, Othello loses his high reputation and becomes capable of destroying his own life only after he began internalizing the Venetians’ poor perception of him. In his article, furthermore, Berry argues that Othello is set apart from other characters in every respect—in his blackness, culture, past, and even his language, but he finds the most significant difference in Othello’s Moorishness—the characteristic that, to Berry, gradually and surely influenced Othello’s life and view point. Berry believes that Iago’s evil plan creates a situation in which Othello is forced to reveal his repressed Moorishness: "his uncontrollable passion, for example, his superstitious interpretation of the handkerchief, or his ritualistic attempt to make the murder of Desdemona a sacrifice” . Berry, however, does not regard Othello 2 as an inhuman savage; he asserts that the self-prejudice, or poor-self-image, was latent in Othello, and Iago, through his evil plan, guides Othello to reveal his concealed self-prejudice. Although I broadly agree with the arguments of Berry and believe that Othello is a tragedy of perception, I do not see Othello as a realistic portrait of a Moor. What Berry does not seem to acknowledge is the importance of Othello’s final realization. After knowing the truth, and recognizing the reality of his mistake, Othello seems to return into his previous way of looking at the world. Though he is still as black as before, a Moor, a man without a past, he is capable of admitting to his mistakes and accepting the truth, proving that jealousy, cruelty, and evilness were not deeply embedded within him. In other words, Othello’s Moorishness did not destroy his idyllic life; instead, the negative perception of Othello toward his Moorishness was the main cause of his final annihilation. For this reason, I will seek to present Othello as the main cause of tragedy within this play, for I believe it was Othello, himself, who submits his thoughts, mind, and will to Iago through his chaotic thoughts, unmanageable fears, and wild suspicions.